About | CASA of the Mid-Shore

CASA of the Mid-Shore is a private, non-profit organization created to advocate for children who are under the protection of the circuit court because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or their parents’ inability to safely care for them. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are officers of the court and, as such, are ordered to make assessments and recommendations to the judge regarding the best interest of the child to whom they are appointed. CASAs attempt to identify the specific needs of each child for the court, advocate for service provision to meet those needs, and assist in seeking a permanent resolution for each child’s life as quickly and safely as possible.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are adult volunteers from the community who are screened, trained, and supervised by professional staff members. When a CASA volunteer is appointed by a judge to a child’s case, he or she is responsible for taking the time to learn as much as possible about the child. CASA volunteers search for information that might be helpful to the court by talking with parents, teachers, relatives, physicians, therapists, attorneys, social workers, and others. They work closely with all agencies involved with each child. Most importantly, the CASAs get to know the child, and frequently become one of the most consistent adults in the child’s life. Then, the CASAs provide a written report to the court with recommendations as to what is in each child’s best interest.

About CASA

The nation's first Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program was created in Seattle, Washington in 1977 by Superior Court Judge David Soukup, who wanted to make sure he and other judges and masters were making the best possible decisions about the lives of abused and neglected children who needed court protection. He conceived of the idea of recruiting and training adult citizens to serve as advocates for children who came before the court as a result of maltreatment by their parents or guardians.

Maryland Charity Campaign #: 1370

CASA of the Mid-Shore is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting CASA of the Mid-Shore at 1 S. Washington Street, Suite 2, Easton, MD 21601 or by calling 410-822-2866. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, 410-974-5534.